He termed the turning of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, which used to make bulk imports during an emergency, non-function unwise after a meeting with edible oil refiners yesterday.

Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Commerce Md Barkat Ullah Bulu, Commerce Secretary Suhel Ahmed yesterday held a series of meetings with officials of the monitoring cell, oil refiners and the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in a bid to keep a lid on prices of essentials.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also had an unscheduled meeting with the commerce minister.

But Khosru said the market situation was not the 'topic' of their talks.

The commerce minister will also hold another meeting today with retailers, wholesalers, traders and officials concerned.

Meanwhile, some edible oil wholesalers alleged that refiners were not delivering the products from mills against delivery order (DO) and were trying to create an artificial crisis before Ramadan.

The commerce minister at a meeting with refiners requested them to keep oil prices at Tk 45 a kg in the month of Ramadan.

"But the refiners did not respond to the commerce minister's appeal. Rather, they urged him to withdraw all duties and taxes on crude oil," said an official who attended the meeting.

A CAB representative, who also attended the meeting, alleged the refiners had more than 96,000 tonnes of oil in their terminal and pipeline but they were claiming that they had only 46,000 tonnes, creating pressure on the government to withdraw duties.

Soybean prices have already gone up by Tk 2 a kg in five days.

Soybean was selling at Tk 48 a kg yesterday, CAB official said, adding in addition to the normal demand, around 20,000 tonnes were needed to satisfy demands in Ramadan.